41
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 12 2024 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Port Adelaide
Last post by kruddler -Don't jinx us!
You often post about respecting opponents, then you lightly dismiss the opposition's prime battering ram.
BigH's main advantage is his mobility and acceleration for a player his size, a ruck injury could end all that.
If I'm not mistaken, BigH is a twin, and his twin brother Ben has already had two minor PCLs.
I ran the numbers on this last week and pointed out how much you are jumping at shadows with this.
Backup ruck, in this case Harry, would attend about 4-6 centre bounces (depending on how many goals are scored) in a game. Now, generally, that is also against the backup ruck of the opposition, but lets ignore that point for 'worst case scenario' talk that you like to follow.
In those 4-6 centre bounces, tell harry not to jump. Tell harry to flat out move out of the way of anyone jumping at the ball. The chance of Harry contested and winning a hitout to advantage is about 1 in every 2-3 weeks from a centre bounce, so simply concede it. Problem solved.
The benefit to rucking Harry is the around the ground stuff. The ball ups and boundary throwins around the ground pose no risk of injury because the rucks start side by side and he can safely compete in them without an issue.
So please, forget about how injured poor Harry might get in 4-6 ruck contests that he doesn't even have to compete in.
He is more likely to get injured in the 10 pack marks he gets crunched in every week anyway, including by his own teammates!